Terms
The duration of notes in music.
Rhythm
Leader “calls” a line of music and background singers “respond” with vocalization or instrumentation.
Call and Response
The main tune
Melody
This style of blues was more authentic in style.
Country Blues
The first African American woman to be recorded.
Mamie Smith
Categorization of music according to style and characteristics.
Genre
Two repeated lines of lyrics followed by one line that varies slightly, but still stays on topic.
AAB Blues Form
The background music.
Harmony
This style of blues was more of a vaudeville show act and used more instrumentation.
Classic/City Blues
The pioneer and artist who made the Boogie Woogie style famous.
Jimmy Yancey
The structure of music or a song.
Form
Multiple rhythms performed simultaneously.
Polyrhythm
The color and quality of sound instruments give.
Timbre
This style has repeated 8th notes with driving rhythm. It originated in Chicago.
Boogie Woogie
Coined the term Boogie Woogie style and created its characteristics.
Clarence "Pine Top" Smith
Consistent feel of notes, most often quarter notes. Tapped or clapped to.
Steady Beat
Upbeats/not on the beat.
Syncopation
Words used for a paragraph of music. They change throughout the song.
Stanza or verse
This style has a bouncy feel compared to a straight driving rhythm.
Swing
Country blues artist that had the 1st commercially successful song by an African American male artist.
Papa Charlie Jackson
Weak beats on two and four. What the audience claps at a rock concert.
Backbeat
Made up music on the spot within a key and chord changes.
Improvisation
Comes after a verse and is the main theme to the song.
Chorus
Glottal, raspy, scream-like, not in a particular set rhythm. Portrayed the agony or emotion of the singers.
Work Songs/Field Hollers
He was a Delta Bluesman who brought country blues up North to Chicago and added an electric sound.
Howlin' Wolf